RestlessMonkey

Sure. I "swayed" from mhy 3 week preop diet, lost 15 pounds and didn't get the band the first time because my liver didn't shrink enough....because I didn't do what my doctor told me to do. So don't cheat. It isn't worth it. You must stick scrupulously to the post op diet, too...and it's often all liquids for a few weeks. (I read about people who cheated and had no problems so I figured I could too. WRONG!)

It's probably just and allergy but call your doc tomorrow to make sure, and find out what he/she recommends you use on it for the itching!

Many surgeons have brochures in their offices for self-payers. I think I've heard of a place called "care credit". Hopefully that will give you a starting place, and maybe self-payers can give you some tips. Good luck!

I got stuck once but I forgot to chew chew chew and small bites. It wasn't pleasant but it was no worse than vomiting is. I could breathe the entire time...it hurt but I wasn't scared because I knew what it was. It took about 5 minutes and the offending bite came back up. It quit hurting immediately. It isn't anything to be scared of. It isn't fun but lots of things are worse than that was...

Do what YOUR DOC tells you to do. They are all different. I've ignored my doc's directions because of things I've read here and regretted it. No one would ever intentionally give you the wrong info and much posted here is helpful; but do not go against your doctor's orders because of something you read here! All surgeons are different and require different things of their patients. Good luck!

I hear you! And let me tell you it is HARD to shed that "diet" mentality. But it works. It's slow (1-2 pounds a week) but it works. It amazes me each week when I get on the scale and have lost AGAIN. Wow! Take care and good luck!

May I make a WILD suggestion? Drop the "strict calorie diet" (you may not be eating enough, especially considering how much you work out) and try to do the band like my doc says to do...eat only 3 meals a day. Eat whatever your family is eating (or what you want, if you're in that position) but eat Protein first, then veggies, then fruit, and finally grains/pastas etc. Take small bites, chew well, take only 30 minutes to eat, dont' drink 15 min before, during, 15 min after meals...and don't snack. don't count, weigh, etc. Don't worry about fat free or whatever. Just make good choices and eat. That will remove the obsession and the 24/7 thoughts of food. It will be "natural". I bet you start losing again. Might you try that?

Tired...what tests you may need and how fast it may go depends entirely on which surgeon you choose! And remember (you probably know this) if you pick a surgeon outside your "home base", you need to make sure you line up local aftercare. If you have an emergency, or even just for fills, most surgeons are very reluctant to take another's patient. As to NSAIDS..that's dicey, because they can cause stomach erosion. Couple that basic fact with the configuration of the band and pouch...and you are asking for trouble. You'll need to discuss that with your surgeon.

My doc said if it's going to happen, it will...I lost hair from 3 mos to 6 mos, never enough for it to be noticed by anyone but me, and now it's stopped. I didn't take any supplement except my multi vitamin over that time.

Or since you can only go every 91 days, have your doc put more in to start. That's what I would do, but we're all differently. Or I'd pay for more frequent ones...because...my doc is conservative and it's taken me from august to now to finally feel restriction. It is much easier with restriction...but I am struggling because for 6 months I could eat anything and felt like the band had failed. I'd rather have had more restriction earlier on. If I had it to do over, I'd tell my doc I preferred a slightly more aggressive approach.

I had baked fish (no topping) and 1/2 of a small baked potato with light butter. I think fish is considered a soft food...not mushie, but soft.

You're thinking with "diet" mentality and IMHO you need to get past that. The band provides PORTION control, it's not the food police. Most likely you will be able to eat anything, just in smaller quantities. I had roast last night...I've had pizza, I've even had part of a patty melt. (Not all in one day, or one week, but I've eaten them) Your "relationship" with food will change....you won't scarf down 1/2 of a large pizza, say (or whatever) but you can have pizza. I've even had a white bread sandwich and lived to tell the tale. I think it's better to just remain calm about it...but we're all different! The more I start to count, and fret, and think "food police" in my head, the more obsessed I get. There's a reason diets fail, you know! Just relax. You'll be making "good choices" (99% of the time!) but can still have your wild "bad choice" fling occasionally! life goes on!

Here's a link to a website comparing the bands: Compare Adjustable Gastric Bands - LAP-BAND vs. REALIZE Band While the site is mostly to compare lap band to realize, you can see that the 4cc is just an older style. I think it IS used predominately in Mexico now (just a guess, not hard fact) but I think it was pretty safe. You might discuss with your surgeon, if in doubt.

Good luck! Hope you love your band; I love mine!

My diet for 3 weeks before the surgery (pre-op) was given to me by my surgeon, not the hospital. It was one HE felt would be most likely to shrink my liver. Not all need one that austere or long term. I can't speak for other surgeons. And the one immediately "Pre op" (as in the day and night before) WAS given to me by the hospital and involved only liquids after noon on the day before, mag citrate as a bowel prep, and nothing by mouth after midnight. Each surgeon has a diet that he/she thinks works best for his patient base, and tailored, to an extent, for each patient.

Easy way out? Pffft on your family who thinks that. I guess if one of them ever needs a pacemaker you can say "well, sure, take the easy way out"... Congrats and welcome!

it will be up to you how much you lose! Trust yourself and your choice!

It's really best to NOT cheat on the preop diet. BUT You can have a burger and fries again! Once you are back on solid foods (about 6 weeks post op, depends on the person) Not everyone has issues with bread and unless your surgeon fills you a good bit during surgery (which doesn't usually happen) you won't have any restriction. Even on down the road, while you may not be able to eat a whole burger and a big order of fries, odds are you'll still be able to eat at least some of each. As long as it's just occasionally (for a special treat) it won't hurt you! So stay strong now. You'll get the benefit later!

There are a multitude of band sizes...well maybe not a multitude but at least 5 that I know of. What is the source of your info?

Google "lap band post op diet". Unless your doctor specifically told you to start eating regular foods, you can be harming yourself. We're pretty much ALL hungry post op, but you need to heal!

Odds are that your fill has just now "kicked in". That is odd, but it happens that way for some...get a fill, nothing, then 2 weeks later BAM! If I were you I'd do what we're told to post fill or post PB: switch to liquids for a day, then progress SLOWLY up to regular food. And once you are on solids, chew chew chew very small bites (remember pencil eraser sized!) As long as you can keep liquid down you aren't in danger of dehydrating, and your soreness is PROBABLY from being agitated. Unless you think you're having a heart attack...(I know the last time I PB'd it hurt worse than my gall bladder attacks EVER did, but it went away, and I knew it wasn't my heart, just the band) In other words don't want to stop you from checking with a doc if you feel you need to but otherwise just do liquids progress to full liquids then mushies soft food and regular food (chew chew chew) and see how you feel.

I don't know the answer to this, just trying to think it through. You lose weight because you take in less calories than you use. Restriction makes that easier, but it doesn't "cause" it. The food choices you make cause it. You can easily take in excess calories by, say, drinking only Chick Fil A Cookies and Cream Milkshakes all day. As long as liquid will go through your band (and that doesn't take a big opening) you'll gain. You'll have nutrition issues, but you'll gain. SO, you will stop losing when you consume more calories than you use. Having said that, if you remember what the band looks like uninflated, and then look at it inflated, and see the size of the opening....it's pretty small. Imagine that opening, (fully filled) and then place your stomach INSIDE that. That does NOT leave much of a hole for food to get through. This leads me to think that as you get tighter, it is more an issue of food selection than the band. For example I have 6.25 ccs in my 14 cc band. I can eat nachos until the cows come home. Judging by them I have NO restriction. But I had roast last night and had to chew that for a LONG time...small bites, very carefully. It didn't take much to fill me up. I guess if I get to "almost" 14 ccs in my 14 cc band and could still eat roast like I can eat nachos (or those milkshakes) then I would think something is wrong...either the band is misplaced (surgeon error) or it leaks and they aren't telling me. Because it's just physics...you can't put something bigger through an opening that's smaller, unless that something bigger is very elastic and pliable. Just my thoughts on the matter, but I think my reasoning is sound. :thumbup:

you need to check with your surgeon. The restriction on foods post op isn't because you might feel bad, it's because when you eat your stomach churns to digest the food and that can mess up your band. You should be eating ONLY what the doc tells you at this time!! Don't mean to sound prissy; just that's something our surgeon really stressed; he said he's had a few patients back in with slippage and tears because they didn't follow his diet.

I think you should've called your doctor!

I don't really think you're supposed to try to diet while on mushies....it's more important to eat soft things that are easy to chew and digest, so you can heal. Trust your doc's advice!